Closure for collapsible tubes



Aug. 31, 1948.

M. C. WILSON CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed July 50, 1945 A INVE N TO R NER/0l TH C. W/L SON .BY Y Arm/sr Patented Aug. 31H, 1948 UNITED STATES FATENT O F FICE CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Meredith C. Wilson; Berkley, Mass.

Application July 30, 1945, SeriallNo.- 607,680

This'invention relatesto an improved cap for a tube of the typeused-as a dispensing container for shaving creams, tooth paste and the like, it being vone object of the invention to provide a cap of such construction that it may beV applied to the threaded neck ofV a tube of conventional formation after removing the cap originally applied to the ncckand serve as means for preventing contentsgof the tubeA from being; damaged by exposuretoatmosphere butl at the same time allow contents of the tube' to be` discharged by merely applying' pressureto' the tube. L

Another objectv of theinvention is to provide a cap having an outlet neck in which a plunger is slidably mounted, the plunger being urged inwardly to a position for closing an opening in the side of the neck and having a stem by means of which it may be manually forced to a closed position if necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide the neck with an inwardly thickened outer end formed with an opening through which the stem of the plunger passes the opening being of such shape in cross section that a bent end of the stem may be passed through it and allow the stem to be readily pressed upon to force the plunger inwardly, the bent end of the stem also constituting means for engaging under an ear carried by the neck and releasably securing the stem and the plunger against outward movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a -cap which may be adapted for application to tubes having threaded necks of different diameters.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a View showing the improved cap applied to the neck of a tube, the cap and the neck of the tube being in longitudinal section and the plunger of the cap being in a closed position.

Figure 2 is a View showing the plunger moved to an opened position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the plunger secured in its closed position.

Figure 4 is a View partially in elevation and partially in section showing the cap removed from the tube and the filler or adapter removed from the cap.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

The tube I is a compressible tube of the type used for holding tooth paste, shaving cream, and the like and has the usual neck 2 externally threaded to receive a cap which is screwed tightly upon the neck and must be removed when con- These vcaps often Vare lost or a personwill fail to replace them and the material in the tube will dry. By using the improved cap constituting the subject-matter of this-invention d'ryingof mate rialin the tubewill be avoided since the improved cap is'4 applied to the neck of the tube after' removing the original cap and remains thereon until contents of the tube hasbeen entirely consumed, the improved cap being then` removed and transferred to a new tube.

This cap' which is indicated inv general by the numeral 3 hask a base 4' which is internally threaded and intothis base is screwed an exernally threaded filler or adapter having a threaded bore of such diameter and having its threads of such pitch that it will t the threaded neck 2. It will be understood that a mer-chant may be supplied with llers having bores of varous sizes and with threads of different pitch in order that a customer may be supplied with a filler which will fit the neck of a tube purchased.

A tubular neck 'i extends longitudinally from the base 4 and its outer end portion is internally thickened to provide a reinforced end portion 8 through which an opening 9 is formed. This opening S has a side extension l0 shown in Figure 5 in order that the bent end or finger l l of a stem I2 may be passed through the opening 9 and the stem turned to a position in which the iinger l I will overhang the outer or front end of the neck 'l and prevent the stem from moving inwardly through opening 9 and allowing the plunger I3 to move rearwardly out of the neck and drop from the cap when the ller 5 is removed. The plunger ts snugly in the neck but is slidable longitudinally therein from a closed position in which it blocks and closes a discharge opening I4 formed through a side portion of the tube near the inner or rear end thereof to a forwardly projected open position in which the opening is uncovered and paste may pass outwardly through the discharge opening. A spring l5 is coiled about the stem l2 with its rear end abutting the plunger I3 and its front end bearing against a washer I6 which fits loosely about the stem and fits against the inner end of the thickcned outer end portion 8 of the tube. This spring is of such tension that it will urge the plunger rearwardly towards its closed position shown in Figure 1, but when the tube is squeezed to discharge paste from the tube the plunger will be moved forwardly and assume the opened position shown in Figure 2 and the paste will be discharged through opening i4 and onto a tooth brush or shaving brush held under the opening. When suflicient paste has been expelled through opening I4 and squeezing pressure upon the tube I discontinued the spring l5 will expand and shift the plunger to its closed position. In case the spring does not fully close the plunger a finger may be engaged with the bent outer end of the stem and pressure applied to force the plunger rearwardly to a closed position. An ear l'lprojects forwardly from the front end of the neck at one side thereof and has a bill I8 which projects inwardly so that when pressure is applied to the outer end of the stem, the stem may be turned and the finger Il engaged under the bill of the ear, as shown in Figure 3, so that the plunger will be secured in a fully closed position and paste prevented from being discharged by accidental squeezing of the tube. When the tube has been emptied the cap will be unscrewed from the neck 2 of the tube and transferred to the neck of a new tube.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A cap for a dispensing tube comprising a base adapted to be secured to the tube, a neck projecting forwardly from said base and having a side portion formed with a discharge opening, the front end portion of the neck being internally thickened and formed with a longitudinally extending bore having a side extension of reduced Width extending entirely through the said internally thickened front end portion of the neck, a plunger slidable longitudinally in said neck from a closed position in blocking relation to the discharge opening to an opened position forwardly of the discharge opening, a stem extending forwardly from said plunger with its front end portion slidably and rotatably passing through the bore and projecting from the .front end of the neck and formed with a side finger at its front end of dimensions adapting it to pass through the side extension of the bore as the stem passes forwardly through the bore during application of the plunger to the neck, a spring about the stem within the neck with one end bearing against the internally thickened portion of the neck and its other end engaging the front end of the plunger and urging the plunger rearwardly to its closed position, and a keeper extending forwardly from the front end of said neck and formed with a laterally extending bill for engaging over1 the finger of the stem and releasably holding the stem and the plunger against forward movement.

MEREDITH C. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNVITED STATES PATENTS Number 

